HEALTH ENCYCLOPEDIA

Skin Lumps

What Are Skin Lumps?

Skin lumps are any areas of abnormally raised skin. The lumps may be
hard and rigid or soft and moveable. Swelling from injury is one common form of
skin lump.

Most skin lumps are benign, meaning they are not
cancerous. Skin lumps are generally not dangerous, and usually do not interfere
with your everyday life. Talk to your doctor or dermatologist if you are
worried about any abnormal growths on your skin.

Possible Causes of Skin
Lumps

Skin lumps can
be caused by a number of health conditions that range in severity. Common types
and causes of skin lumps include:

trauma

acne

moles

warts

pockets of infection, such as
abscesses and boils

cancerous growths

cysts

corns

allergic reactions, including
hives

Trauma

The most common cause of skin lumps is trauma
or injury. This type of lump is sometimes called a goose egg. It occurs when
you hit your head or another part of your body. Your skin will begin to swell,
causing a lump that may also be bruised. Skin lumps caused by injury usually
swell suddenly, within a day or two of the traumatic event.

Cysts

A cyst is another typical cause of skin
lumps. A cyst is an enclosed area of skin tissue that forms underneath the
outermost layer of skin. Cysts are usually filled with fluid.

The contents of a cyst may remain under the
skin or rupture out of the cyst. Cysts are most often soft and moveable, unlike
hard warts or corns. Most cysts are not cancerous. Cysts are usually painless,
unless they become infected.

Swollen Lymph Nodes

You may also encounter skin lumps where your
lymph glands are located. Lymph glands contain white blood cells that help
fight infection. The glands under your arms and in your neck may temporarily
become hard and lumpy if you have a cold or infection. Your lymph nodes will
return to normal size as your illness runs its course.

Childhood Illness

Childhood illnesses, such as mumps and
chicken pox, can also give your skin a lumpy appearance. Mumps is a viral infection that
affects your salivary glands. Your swollen glands can give your cheeks a
chipmunk-like appearance.

The herpes zoster virus causes chicken pox. During a bout of the
chicken pox, your skin is marked with pink bumps that rupture and become
crusty. Most children receive vaccinations to protect against these childhood
diseases

Diagnosing the Cause of
Your Skin Lump

Your doctor
will ask you a series of questions to help diagnose the cause of your skin
lump, such as:

Who first discovered the lump?
(usually the spouse is the one that makes mention of a lump or skin finding)

When did you first discover the
lump?

How many skin lumps do you have?

What are the color, shape, and
texture of the lumps?

Does the lump hurt?

Are you experiencing other
symptoms? (such as itchiness, fevers, drainage, etc.)

The color and shape of the lump can be an
important part of diagnosing the problem. A mole that changes color or has an
irregular border is a red flag. These characteristics are signs of possible
skin cancer.

Basal cell carcinoma is another form of skin cancer that looks like an ordinary
skin lump or pimple at first glance. A lump could be cancerous if it:

bleeds

doesn’t go away

grows in size

Discuss any unusual skin lumps with your
doctor. You may need a skin biopsy if your lump appears suddenly and without
explanation. A biopsy is
the removal of a small sample of your skin tissue. Your doctor can test the
biopsy sample for cancerous cells.

Treatment for Skin Lumps

Skin lumps caused by injury usually fade on
their own as the swelling goes down. Applying an ice pack and elevating the
area can reduce inflammation and ease pain. You will need antibiotic
medications to help the lumps heal if your skin lump is caused by an infection
or abscess.

Discomfort or pain from lymph node swelling,
enlarged salivary glands, or a skin rash caused by a viral illness can be
managed. You should try ice packs, baking soda baths, and fever-reducing
medication.

Your doctor may prescribe topical medicines to eliminate
acne bumps, warts, and rashes. Topical skin ointments and creams may contain
salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide. These ingredients help reduce local
infection and bacteria found in cystic acne. The acid may also help decrease the
amount of skin that has built up around a wart.

Corticosteroid injections are a possible treatment for skin lumps that
become inflamed. Corticosteroidsare powerful anti-inflammatory
drugs. Cystic acne, generalized skin infections, and benign cysts are among the
types of skin lumps that can be treated with corticosteroid injections.
However, these injections can have side effects near the area of injection,
including infection, pain, loss of skin color, or shrinking of soft tissue. For
this reason and more, corticosteroid injections are generally used no more than
a few times a year.

A skin lump that causes continual pain or is
hazardous to your health may require a more invasive medical treatment. Skin
lumps that may warrant drainage or
surgical removal include:

boils

corns

cysts

cancerous tumors or moles

abscesses

Outlook

Most skin lumps are not serious. Usually,
treatment is only necessary if the lump is bothering you.

You should go to a doctor any time you are
concerned about a growth on your skin. Your doctor can evaluate the lump and
make sure it is not a symptom of a serious underlying condition.

This feature is for informational purposes only and should not be used to replace the care and information received from your health care provider. Please consult a health care professional with any health concerns you may have.